Erica's Bridal Shower & Baby Update

What a crazy fun day!!! There were SOOO many girls that showed up to support Erica---high school friends, former mission companions, old college roommates, current roommates, co-workers, family members, future in-laws...all wonderful girls!! There had to have been about 40 girls packed in my family room and kitchen. A few even drove up from St. George and down from Idaho! We were all packed like sardines (sorry to those who didn't have a seat), many had to stand while Erica opened her gifts. She loved all who came and all the wonderful things they gave her. It was hilarious to watch her open gifts and scream from excitement... especially the lingerie gifts! Ha ha. I love Erica's personality so much! She had a blast and was soo happy the whole day.

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Here are a few of my favorite engagement photos of the happy couple! They both look great. Her pictures are stunning.

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A few pics of the decorations. It was fun putting it all together.

I decorated our mantel with some of Erica's beautiful Engagement and Bridal photos.

I added rub-on sayings and thick decorative stickers to each photo.

 I made a simple "Bride To Be" banner with a few of their photos.

As well as a picture banner.

I displayed her bridal shower invite in a cute frame. I also spray painted an oval frame and hung my home-made flower ball in the center. It look cute!

Yummy fruit and party-favor M&M packets.

 I also wanted to display her wedding jewelry and shoes.

A college roommate reunion photo op! All these great gals reunited for the first time in years since being Freshman and Sophomore college roommates. Erica was delighted to see everyone together!

Erica's future mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. Two more sisters are not pictured here. 

My grandma and Aunt Carole helped us prepare some of the food! Thanks!

With all the commotion, I wasn't able to get pictures of everyone who attended. I feel bad that I missed out on a photos of a lot of girls who came to support Erica. I wanted Erica to remember everyone. 

Our "other sister" Autumn! She pretty much lived with us while going to high school in Morgan Hill. She has been just like a sister to Erica and I. We just love Autumn!

Time to open gifts!

Cute apron!

LOTS of lingerie! :)

Kitchen utensils and fall decorations for her new apartment.

She had a blast opening everything up!

My mom and Phil's current and also former high school girlfriend, Kelsey! Wedding bells are in the near future for Phil and Kelsey. We all just love her!

Mom and all her girls!

My cute friend Britney and I are both expecting!! We have always said we wanted to start having kids around the same time...well here we are! She is due in November and I am due in February. So exciting for us to share this first-time pregnancy experience together! I actually have quite a few girlfriends who are pregnant for the first time right now. It has been awesome to have such close friends go through this with me. We can gab all we want about our changing bodies. It's been fun. 

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Baby Update

I am now 18 weeks (barley 5 months) along. I'm almost half-way there! And the best part is, I feel great! I haven't barfed since I was about 15 weeks. So awesome! :) I can eat regularly and have even been craving a few things...like steaks and starchy foods. It feels soooo nice to be out of that black hole of nausea. I have never been more grateful for my health than I am now. I still get really dizzy, and sometimes almost faint when I stand up too quickly, but it's not difficult to deal with. My body feels like it is constantly tired, but my brain seems to have insomnia. ha ha. I don't sleep well at night, but I feel physically exhausted. It's the weirdest thing. It's all stuff that's easy to handle though, so I don't mind.

Baby B should now be about 6 inches long from head to rump, about the size of a mango. As for me, I'm still really not showing much at all. Unless I lean back, wrap my hands around my clothes and belly, you can't tell I'm pregnant. I'm hoping a small belly now will help with stretch-marks and loosened skin later...but I'm a beginner, so I have no idea. Any good "belly balm" lotions or tips out there to avoid stretch-marks when my belly really starts to grow? I've heard stretch-marks can be hereditary, so I might be in the clear based on my mom's experience. So far, so good.

We have our next OB appointment on October 4th to find out if it's a boy or girl. I'm so excited for that! I'm really, really hoping for a boy. I know Zach is crossing his fingers for a boy too. He needs a little partner in crime. But obviously, over all, we just want a healthy baby...boy or girl. So I'll be sure to let everyone know as soon as we find out! Once we know, we're going to start painting and getting the baby's nursery ready. Eeek! Cant' wait.